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THE 

WHITE  MOUNTAINS 

OF  NEW  HAMPSHIRE 

In  the  Heart  of  the 
Nation's  Playground 


Boston  and  Maine  Railroad 

J.  H.  HUSTIS,  Temporary  Receiver 


ISSUED   BY  THE 


PASSENGER  TRAFFIC   DEPARTMENT 
BOSTON,  MASSACHUSETTS 

1917 


Mt.  Washington  from  Bretton  Woods 


On  the  Road  to  Whitefield 

THE   WHITE   MOUNTAINS 

Vacation  Land's  Scenic  Treasure 

Here  is  a  country  that  lifts  the  tired  mortal  out  of  all  contact 
with  the  cares  and  worries  and  drudgeries  that  have  been  left  in  the 
hot  and  noisy  city,  but  a  few  hours  before. 

Here  are  the  requirements  that  go  to  make  up  a  vacation  to  be 
remembered  and  repeated: — varied  as  those  requirements  are. 

In  the  White  Mountains  the  visitor  will  find  these  complete.  From 
the  A  of  accommodations  to  the  Z  of  zest  with  which  vacation  days 
are  enjoyed  there  is  nothing  lacking  in  this  breezy,  germ-free,  wide- 
spaced,  sky-communing  land  of  summer  delight  that  soothes  and  heals 
and  builds  up  tissue  and  brain-cell  —  and  satisfies. 

And,  after  all,  it  is  satisfaction,  in  vacation  as  in  life  itself,  that 
is  the  chief  desire  of  humanity. 


1 066782 


Georgians  Falls,  North  Woodstock 


Elephants  Head  and  Mt.  Webster 

From  the  standpoint  of  beauty,  healthfulness  and  pure  enjoy- 
ment, there  is  no  section  in  the  East  to  compare  with  the  White  Mountain 
region. 

What  is  most  notable,  and  perhaps  the  least  appreciated  about  it, 
is  the  fact  that  this  region  of  amazing  vacation  resources  is  within 
twenty  hours'  journey  of  the  homes  of  thirty  million  people. 

If  this  were  being  written  twenty-five  or  fifty  years  ago,  it  would, 
in  all  probability,  deal  almost  wholly  with  the  scenic  attributes  of  the 
White  Mountain  region  —  the  phase  that  Thomas  Starr  King  and 
Samuel  Adams  Drake  and  the  long  line  of  other  illustrious  word-painters 
loved  to  describe. 

In  those  days  there  was  not  much  else  to  write  about;  but  to-day 
it  is  different,  for  life  has  come  to  the  New  England  Highlands  --  life 
that  fills  their  echoing  valleys  with  the  laughter  of  the  strong-lunged 
and  care-free;  that  effervesces  on  golf-course,  tennis-court  and  baseball 


field;  that  scintillates  in  gorgeously  illuminated  lobby  and  ballroom; 
that  sprawls  along  interminable  miles  of  range-encircling  trails,  and 
makes  its  presence  felt  in  a  score  of  thriving  centers  whose  existence 
was  as  little  foreseen  by  old  Abel  Crawford  and  the  ill-fated  Willey 
family  as  was  the  coming  of  the  first  motor  car. 

These  pages  are  likely  to  have  as  much  to  say  concerning  what 
the  summer  visitor  does  as  what  he  sees  from  lofty  mountain  top  or 
sunken  floor  of  notch  or  ravine.  Unchangeable  is  the  scenery  of  the 
Mountains,  but  the  human  equation  changes  ever. 

Filling  the  northern  corner  of  the  picturesque  "Granite  State" 
with  their  four-hundred-and-odd  square  miles  of  cloud-saluting  peaks, 
this  wonderful  group  of  the  Appalachian  system  challenges  the  atten- 
tion of  America's  millions  from  the  geographical,  the  scenic  and  the 
social  point  of  view.  That  the  region  was  given  its  conformation  and 


Bridge  over  Saco  River,  Crawford  Notch 


Rugged  Chocorua 


placed  there  by  the  Great  Architect  as  a  place  of  refuge  for  the  wearied 
hosts  who  were  by  and  by  to  people  the  busy  cities  and  towns  of  America 
is  a  conclusion  difficult  to  escape.  Certainly  it  is  Nature's  own  sana- 
torium, where  even  the  modern  hay-fever  victim  may  count  on  finding 
sure  relief. 

Mountains  with  their  intervening  valleys  and  basins  are  to  be 
counted  by  the  score.  There  are  at  least  forty  with  an  altitude  of 
more  than  4,000  feet,  and  eleven  whose  height  above  sea  level  exceeds 
5,000  feet.  The  king  of  this  royal  company,  famous  Mt.  Washington, 
rears  itself  to  an  altitude  of  6,290  feet,  with  all  the  stately  grandeur 
of  the  illustrious  American  for  whom  it  was  named.  It  is  upon  its 
lofty  summit  that  the  ridgepole  of  eastern  America  is  found;  and  to 
stand  there  and  gaze  around  the  hundred-mile  radius  of  prospect  is 
to  make  one  feel  as  though  he  were  on  the  roof  of  the  world  with  the 
stars  for  his  nearest  neighbor. 


Assaquam  Brook,  Crawford 


The  First  Drive  At  Waumbek 

And,  best  of  all,  these  Mountains  and  their  attractive  foothills 
are  clothed  with  something  like  2,000,000  acres  of  forests,  hiding  many 
of  the  loveliest  waterfalls,  most  picturesque  streams  and  remarkable 
geological  freaks  to  be  found  in  the  open  pages  of  Nature's  book. 

Through  these  sinuous  valleys  and  notches  wind  miles  and  miles 
of  the  finest  highways  to  be  found  on  the  continent,  offering  rare  in- 
ducements to  those  who  enjoy  motoring  or  driving,  and  athwart  the 
precipitous  slopes  of  the  Mountains  themselves  and  along  their  con- 
necting ridges  run  ribbon-like  trails  for  those  who  love  to  tramp  the 
glorious  hills,  their  evening  couch  perchance  a  handful  of  fir  boughs 
and  their  canopy  a  cotton  shelter  tent,  or  perhaps  the  open  sky  itself. 

It  is  a  sort  of  grown-up  fairyland,  this  White  Mountain  region, 
each  turn  of  a  road  or  path,  or  each  achievement  of  a  summit  revealing 
some  new  and  wonderful  spectacle  or  experience.  The  stimulating, 
sustaining  mountain  air,  tinctured  with. the  largest  of  the  balsam  growths, 
the  wonderful  clarity  of  the  atmosphere,  the  surpassing  glory  of  the 


sunsets  and  sunrises,  the  wraith-like  effects  of  fog  and  cloud  on  moun- 
tain top  and  in  valley,  the  weird  and  enchanting  moonlight  pictures, 
and  the  harmonious,  enlivening  and  wholesome  social  life  of  the  hotels 
and  summer  colonies  together  form  such  a  magnetic  combination  that 
one  learns  without  surprise  that  there  are  regular  visitors  to  the  Moun- 
tains who  have  been  spending  their  summers  there  continuously  for 
thirty  and  forty  years. 

In  the  White  Mountains  to-day  every  highway,  be  it  of  steel  or 
earth,  leads,  directly  or  indirectly,  to  Mt.  Washington.  This  is  the 
Mt.  Blanc  of  the  New  England  Switzerland,  the  hub  of  the  vacation 
world.  It  is  entirely  fitting  to  enter  upon  a  brief  consideration  of  the 
White  Mountains  and  their  summer  joys  by  utilizing  Mt.  Washington 
as  the  starting-point,  for  if  one  does  not  start  from  there,  he  is  sure  to 
eventually  reach  there. 

It  is  because  of  this  fact  that  Mt.  Washington  is  the  center  of 
the  Mountains  that  Bretton  Woods  has  come  into  existence  as  the  chief 


Bretton  Woods  Links  are  Sporty  and  Sightly 


Stickney  Memorial  Chapel,  Bretton  Woods 

resort  of  wealth  and  fashion  in  the  region.  It  is  to  the  White  Moun- 
tains what  Bar  Harbor  is  to  Maine  or  St.  Augustine  to  Florida. 

When  the  great  million-and-a-half-dollar  palace  hotel  at  Bretton 
Woods,  the  "Mount  Washington,"  is  aglow  at  night  with  its  5,000 
incandescent  lamps,  there  is  an  indoor  scene  comparable  in  brilliancy  to 
a  reception  to  the  diplomatic  corps  at  the  White  House  or  a  levee  at 
the  Court  of  St.  James.  The  "Mount  Washington"  is  pioneer  of  a 
succession  of  other  vacation-season  palaces  whose  walls  continue  to 
uprear  themselves  in  the  White  Mountains. 

But  Bretton  Woods,  with  its  dress  parade  of  millionaires,  its  en- 
chanting scenery,  its  1,600  feet  of  altitude,  its  wonderful  golf-course 
and  its  prismatic  social  life,  has  by  no  means  a  monopoly  in  the  Moun- 
tains. It  is  merely  a  symptom. 

Near  neighbor  of  Bretton  Woods  stands  historic  Fabyan,  of  de- 
lightful memory  to  two  generations  of  White  Mountain  devotees.  It 


is  one  of  the  most  attractive,  as  well  as  the  most  accessible,  of  the 
Mountain  resorts,  and  the  views  of  Mt.  Washington  and  the  Presi- 
dential Range  it  affords  are  among  the  most  satisfying  in  the  region. 
As  a  center  of  White  Mountain  drives,  rail  excursions  and  tramping 
trips,  Fabyan  is  without  a  peer. 

There  are  other  places  —  many  of  them  —  where  one  can  enjoy  just 
as  good  a  time,  according  to  one's  taste  or  means  —  resorts  like  Bethle- 
hem, Maplewood,  Profile  House,  Jefferson,  Littleton,  North  Woodstock, 
Crawford,  Franconia,  Sugar  Hill,  Randolph,  Gorham,  North  Conway, 
Intervale,  Jackson,  Whitefield,  Dixville  Notch  and  others  to  be  men- 
tioned later.  Each  of  these  places  has  its  own  local  attractions  and 
associations,  and  to  a  large  extent  its  own  clientele.  The  same  mag- 
nificent air,  the  same  superb  scenery,  the  identical  outdoor  activities 
are  shared  by  each  and  all  of  these  resorts,  and  in  effect  they  are  units 
of  one  big  and  ever-growing  vacation  family,  indulging  in  friendly 


Through  Franconia  Notch 


Swimming  Pool,  Ammonoosuc  River 


rivalries  on  the  baseball  diamond  or  tennis-court  and  exchanging  social 
visits  when  the  spirit  moves.  And  the  spirit  moves  with  oft-recurring 
regularity. 

The  summer  vacation  season  in  the  Mountains  (there  is  nowadays, 
by  the  way,  a  winter  vacation  season  there,  too)  begins  about  the  last 
week  in  June,  although  some  of  the  larger  houses  do  not  open  until 
somewhat  later.  At  Bethlehem,  Maplewood,  Profile  House,  Jefferson, 
Bretton  Woods,  Crawford,  Fabyan,  Twin  Mountain,  North  Woodstock, 
North  Conway,  Jackson,  Dixville  Notch  and  elsewhere  some  of  the 
leading  hotels  are  ready  to  receive  guests  about  June  fifteenth,  and 
of  late  years  the  custom  of  spending  the  Fourth  of  July  in  the  Moun- 
tains has  been  followed  by  many. 

No  more  effective  and  sensible  method  of  escaping  the  noise  and 
heat  of  the  Glorious  Fourth  could  possibly  be  adopted.  The  quick 
transition  from  city  clamor  to  Mountain  quiet  is  almost  miraculous. 


The  noise  of  the  celebration  is  far  less  trying  because  of  that  impressive 
silence  in  which  it  is  so  easily  lost. 

Shortly  after  Independence  Day  the  regular  summer  visitors  begin 
to  put  in  an  appearance  at  the  various  Mountain  resorts.  Panting 
locomotives  draw  them  in  Jong  trainloads  up  through  the  wonderful 
fifteen-mile  Crawford  Notch;  big  delegations  of  them  drop  off  the 
trains  at  North  Woodstock,  and  hundreds  swing  round  the  south- 
western frontier  of  the  Mountains  and  disembark  at  Bethlehem, 
Maplewood,  Jefferson  or  whatever  point  on  the  West  Side  they  are 
booked  for. 

By  the  first  of  August  the  hotels  begin  to  take  on  the  appearance 
of  a  London  'bus  on  a  bank  holiday,  and  throughout  this  ideal  month 
the  summer  life  is  at  crescendo.  The  younger  members  of  the  big 
summer  colony  are  in  an  hourly  whirl  of  delicious  excitement — golfing, 
driving,  fishing,  motoring,  disporting  in  swimming-pools,  playing  base- 


Golf  Club,   Profile  House 


Good  Courts  Draw  the  Enthusiast 


ball,  tennis  or  squash,  rowing,  sailing  (for  you  can  row  and  sail  in  some 
parts  of  the  Mountains),  enjoying  picnics  and  hay  rides,  camping  out, 
photographing,  sketching,  playing  croquet,  billiards  or  bridge,  enjoying 
concerts  or  theatricals  —  in  short,  having  a  good  time,  as  only  those 
who  summer  in  the  White  Mountains  can  enjoy  one.  For  their  elders, 
there  are  plenty  of  less  exacting  recreations,  and  failing  all  else,  there 
is  always  the  inspiring  and  satisfying  scenery  to  enjoy  —  for  the  White 
Mountain  scenery  is  genial  and  soothing,  and  lacks  the  austerity  that 
marks  some  of  the  mountain  scenery  of  the  far  West. 

Life  goes  on  much  like  this  until  the  middle  of  October,  for  the 
season,  once  ending  with  August,  has  a  tendency  to  lengthen  a  little 
every  year,  so  loath  are  the  lovers  of  the  Mountains  to  leave  their 
splendid  sanatorium. 

In  considering  the  varied  list  of  possible  outdoor  pastimes  in  this 
playground  of  the  millions,  it  is  rather  difficult  to  decide  which  excels  in 


popular  favor.  It  will,  however,  be  entirely  safe  to  place  the  royal 
game  of  golf  near  the  head  of  the  list,  for  in  no  part  of  the  country 
are  the  facilities  for  indulging  in  this  popular  sport  more  extensive 
than  in  the  White  Mountains.  Some  of  the  finest  courses  in  America 
are  to  be  found  here,  and,  needless  to  say,  some  of  the  most  celebrated 
players  in  the  world  follow  the  elusive  ball  over  their  velvety  acres. 

There  are  at  least  a  score  of  such  courses  in  various  parts  of  the 
White  Mountain  territory,  of  which  five  are  eighteen-hole  courses — 
those  at  Bretton  Woods,  Maplewood,  Bethlehem,  The  Balsams  and 
Jefferson.  There  are  nine-hole  courses  at  Crawford  House,  Jackson, 
North  Conway,  Fabyan,  Twin  Mountain,  Profile  House,  Sugar  Hill, 
Whitefield  and  Franconia. 

Some  of  these  are  maintained  by  the  hotels,  while  others  are  under 
the  control  of  local  clubs,  as  in  the  case  of  Bethlehem  and  Jefferson. 
Each  course  has  its  own  characteristics,  while  in  combination  they 


Golfing  Two  Thousand  Feet  Above  the  Sea 


A  Country  Lane,  Whitefield 


The  Links  at  Sugar  Hill 


supply  every  requirement  of  sporty  play.  In  point  of  sheer  pictur- 
esqueness,  there  are  few  golf-links  in  the  United  States  that  are  to  be 
compared  with  those  at  Maplewood.  The  new  clubhouse  at  The 
Balsams  affords  a  view  unsurpassed  in  New  England;  while  the  Bretton 
Woods  course,  from  its  peculiar  situation  in  the  great  mountain-walled 
basin  that  forms  the  resort,  is  entirely  unique. 

The  Bretton  Woods  course  is  distinctive  in  one  other  respect,  and 
that  is  the  number  and  discipline  of  its  caddies.  These  are  a  battalion 
of  some  sixty  bright  boys  annually  brought  up  from  Boston,  carefully 
trained  and  drilled  for  the  work  and  handled  by  their  instructors  in 
all  their  various  comings  and  goings  on  semi-military  principles. 

As  a  rule,  the  various  professional  and  amateur  tournaments  at 
Bretton  Woods,  Maplewood,  Jefferson  and  the  other  more  important 
resorts  are  among  the  most  spectacular  outdoor  events  of  the  season 
in  the  Mountains. 


It  is  by  no  means  an  uncommon  event  for  more  than  one  hundred 
golfers  to  play  over  the  Bretton  Woods  course  in  a  single  day. 

Tennis  is  an  outdoor  sport  that  has  an  ineradicable  hold  in  this 
section,  and  there  are  a  number  of  excellent  courts,  but  none  is  more 
enchantingly  located,  nor  more  famous  throughout  the  country  than 
that  at  Crawford  House,  at  the  very  gateway  of  the  marvelous  Crawford 
Notch. 

At  the  annual  tennis  tournament  here,  players  and  devotees  of  the 
game  flock  from  every  hotel  in  the  Mountains,  and  the  picture  pre- 
sented by  players  and  fashionably  attired  spectators  on  a  fine  August 
afternoon  is  a  particularly  brilliant  one.  There  are  frequently  fifty 
or  more  entries,  with  some  of  the  most  expert  players  in  the  country 
in  the  lists.  The  result  of  these  annual  tournaments  is  always  regarded 
as  one  of  the  most  important  bits  of  published  athletic  intelligence 
of  the  day. 


Title  Matches  at  Crawford  are  Well  Attended 


The  Pinch  Hitter 


The  friendly  rivalry  between  leading  hotels  and  centers  in  the 
Mountains,  which  serves  to  accentuate  the  interest  of  summer  life 
therein,  finds  its  chief  safety-valve  in  baseball  matches,  however. 
Practically  every  center  in  the  Mountains  has  its  local  team  of  no 
mean  caliber,  and  exciting,  indeed,  are  some  of  the  contests  that  take 
place  between  them.  From  the  beginning  the  national  game  has  always 
been  popular  in  the  White  Mountains,  and  from  the  Glorious  Fourth 
until  the  last  trainload  of  summer  visitors  has  departed,  the  players 
and  "fans"  are  in  daily  action  all  over  the  region. 

In  tennis,  golf  and  the  other  conventional  pastimes,  women,  of 
course,  participate  extensively;  and  those  who  do  not  golf  or  wield 
the  racket  may  well  be  devotees  of  horse-back  riding,  one  of  the  most 
popular  and  delightful  exercises  possible  in  the  Mountains. 

For  those  who  do  not  bring  their  own  mounts,  as  many  do,  there 
are  splendid  liveries  at  all  of  the  leading  centers  and,  in  addition, 


riding-masters  and  instructors  of  national  renown.  The  entire  White 
Mountain  country,  with  its  magnificent  highways  and  its  fine  bridle- 
paths, offers  exceptional  opportunities  for  riding  under  the  most  de- 
lightful conditions  of  climate  and  scenery,  and  no  more  body-building 
and  muscle-hardening  pastime  can  be  indulged  in. 

At  some  of  the  resorts  there  are  also  bowling-greens  maintained, 
where  this  fine  old  sport  may  be  enjoyed  by  its  lovers;  and  clock  golf 
is  also  on  the  list.  At  Bretton  Woods  water  sports  are  frequently 
hold,  the  great  swimming-pool  at  "The  Mount  Washington"  making 
this  possible,  as  well  as  furnishing  the  visiting  vacationists  a  most 
excellent  substitute  for  a  morning  or  afternoon  dip  in  the  sea.  Dashes, 
under-water  races,  diving  and  tub  races  are  included,  the  Bretton 
Woods  caddies  having  an  excellent  opportunity  to  display  their  natatorial 
talents  here. 

Driving,  of  course,  is  one  of  the  perennially  popular  pastimes 
throughout  the  White  Mountains;  and  these  expeditions  may  be  made 


Bethlehem  Golf  Club 


Boys'  Camp,  Upper  Falls,  Ammonoosuc  River 


delightful  outings  of  several  days'  duration  such  as  have  become  popu- 
lar in  California  and  Colorado,  and  in  competition  with  which  the 
automobile  has  no  part.  It  is  no  uncommon  thing  for  a  large  party 
of  congenial  spirits  to  start  out  in  tallyhos  or  Mountain  wagons  from 
one  of  the  big  hotels,  accompanied  by  chef  and  chaperone,  and  be  gone 
the  greater  part  of  a  week,  visiting  where  they  will  among  the  important 
centers  of  interest  in  the  Mountains,  reveling  in  the  wonderful  scenery 
and  bracing  air,  and  camping  out  at  night  in  true  gypsy  style,  if  the 
weather  is  propitious.  Smaller  parties  sometimes  enjoy  the  same 
nomadic  experiences  in  motor-cars,  for  the  hotels  have  up-to-date 
garages  as  well  as  liveries. 

Then  there  is  the  combined  carriage  and  railroad  one-day  trip, 
which  enables  the  sojourner  at  almost  any  of  the  score  or  more  of  White 
Mountain  resorts  to  visit  the  summit  of  Mt.  Washington,  explore 
the  wonders  of  Crawford  Notch,  or  gaze  with  awe  upon  the  stern  features 


Humphrey's  Ledge,  North  Conway 


of  the  Old  Man  of  the  Mountains,  returning  home  in  time  for 
dinner, —  that  all-important  factor  in  vacation  life  in  the  Mountains 
as  elsewhere. 

Broadly  speaking,  one  may  nowadays,  through  the  aid  of  the 
railroads  —  standard-gauge,  narrow-gauge  and  cog  —  get  from  any- 
where to  anywhere  else  in  the  Mountains  and  back  again  in  a  period 
but  a  little  longer  than  that  usually  devoted  to  a  day's  business  in 
office  or  bank.  One  can  more  easily  climb  a  mountain  than  was  the 
case  a  quarter  of  a  century  ago,  for  the  way  has  been  made  easier  and 
safer  through  the  good  offices  of  the  modern  trail-builder. 

Nor  does  the  foregoing  by  any  means  exhaust  the  list  of  possi- 
bilities in  the  line  of  outdoor  pastimes  in  the  Mountains.  Rather  it 
is  only  a  beginning.  Think  what  wonderful  worlds  there  are  awaiting 
the  conquering  approach  of  the  tramper.  Weston  in  his  pedestrian 
journeys  across  the  continent  did  not  quaff  of  half  the  joys  that  await 
the  outdoor  explorer  in  the  White  Mountains. 


Saco  Lake  and  Presidential  Range 


The  "Old  Man  of  the  Mountains" 


Presidential  Range  from  \Vhitefield 

Most  impressive  about  the  White  Mountains  is  scenic  beauty.  It 
does  not  matter  from  which  side  one  approaches,  every  effect  is  satis- 
fying. And  the  longer  one  remains  the  more  attractive  the  picture 
becomes.  It  is  new  every  hour  of  each  day,  with  the  changing  cloud 
effects,  and  the  varying  angles  to  which  each  view  may  be  subjected. 
Although  the  area  included  within  the  mountain  territory  exceeds  four 
hundred  square  miles  yet  the  section  is  so  connected  by  railroad,  and 
contains  so  many  fine  roads  and  clearly  defined  trails,  as  to  make  each 
part  easily  accessible  from  every  other.  And  while  the  beauties  of 
the  region  are  hidden  from  no  one  who  enters  its  famous  portals,  the 
full  glory  of  its  possibilities  is  revealed  most  completely  to  him  who 
leaves  the  broad  highway  and  tramps  the  trails  in  pursuit  of  his  pleasure. 
To  him  there  is  the  finest  of  exercise,  in  the  purest  of  air,  by  day,  and 
restful,  health-building  sleep  by  night.  Clear  skies  and  fine  outlooks 
are  wonderful,  while  storms  and  fogs  are  no  less  wonderful  and  im- 
mensely impressive.  The  problem  of  food  and  sleep  is  easily  met  by 


the  owners  of  the  farmhouses,  if  one  is  away  from  the  hotel  district. 
There  is  no  Mountain  summit,  notch,  ravine,  valley,  lake,  stream, 
ice  cave,  ridge,  gulf,  overlook,  precipice,  waterfall,  village,  lumber 
camp  or  hermit's  hut  that  the  tramper  cannot  reach  or  explore.  Lost 
rivers  are  lost  no  more  when  he  takes  the  trail;  and  even  winter,  with 
its  five  or  six  feet  of  snow  and  its  temperature  of  25  degrees  below  zero, 
has  no  terrors  for  him,  for  he  simply  dons  his  snowshoes,  like  the  Craw- 
fords  of  old  and  the  Indians  before  them,  and  even  the  ice-bound  crown 
of  Mt.  Washington  itself  is  his,  if  he  so  wills. 

The  Department  of  Agriculture,  acting  under  the  provisions  of 
the  so-called  Weeks  Law,  has  established  a  National  Forest  in  New 
Hampshire,  with  headquarters  at  Gorham. 

The  National  Forests  are  the  great  recreation  grounds  of  the 
Nation.  The  White  Mountain  National  Forest  includes  the  central 
White  Mountain  region,  embracing  all  of  the  higher  ranges  and  moun- 


Mt.  Webster  from  Mt.  Willard 


Carter  Notch,  Fire  Warden's  Camp,  within  the  National  Forest 


tain  peaks,  among  which  rise  the  main  tributaries  of  the  most  impor- 
tant rivers  of  New  England,  the  Connecticut,  the  Androscoggin,  the 
Merrimac,  and  the  Saco. 

All  National  Forests  are  public  property,  maintained  for  the  benefit 
of  the  public.  They  are  open  to  every  kind  of  use  and  occupancy 
which  does  not  reduce  their  value  to  the  community  or  conflict  with 
the  principle  of  equal  rights  for  all. 

Their  primary  purpose  is  to  provide  a  self-renewing  timber  supply 
and  a  regulated  strearnflow. 

Camping,  hunting,  fishing,  and  trapping  in  the  Forests 
are  free. 

The  advent  of  Uncle  Sam  in  the  role  of  proprietor  of  the  hills  has 
given  a  tremendous  impetus  to  the  playground  idea.  His  coming 
is  a  token  of  liberty  to  roam  without  fear  of  the  trespass  laws.  Through 
the  co-operation  of  the  Government's  Forest  Service  and  the  moun- 


Millbrook  Cascade  at  Thornton 


taineering  clubs,  the  White  Mountains  are  soon  to  be  to  New  England 
what  the  Black  Forest  has  long  been  to  Germany,  a  forest  and  a  rec- 
reation ground  combined,  and  the  problem  of  catering  to  this  phase 
of  vacationing  is  already  pressing  for  solution.  The  Appalachian 
Mountain  Club  has  now  open  three  shelters,  with  more  in  contempla- 
tion. The  Madison  Stone  Hut  is  the  oldest.  It  lies  between  Mts. 
Adams  and  Madison,  and  is  reached  by  direct  paths  from  Appalachia 
Station,  Randolph.  Then  there  is  the  Carter  Notch  Stone  Hut,  which 
lies  between  Carter  Dome  and  Wildcat.  One  reaches  it  on  the  Jack- 
son or  Glen  House  Trails.  The  newest  of  these  shelters  is  The  Lakes 
of  the  Clouds  Hut,  which  was  dedicated  August  7,  1915.  It  is  located 
on  a  spur  of  Mt.  Washington,  near  the  Crawford  Bridle  Path. 

Until  the  schemes  now  on  foot  are  perfected  by  the  Appalachian 
Club  and  the  Forest  Service,  much  primitive  camping  must  be  done 
by  those  who  respond  to  the  call  of  the  wanderlust.  All  the  Forest 


Down  the  Glen  from  Mt.  Washington 


Golf  at  The  Maplewood 

Ranger  will  ask  of  the  camper,  however,  is  that  he  clean  up  his  camp 
site  and  carefully  put  out  every  ember  of  his  camp-fire.  Later  huts 
and  cabins,  providing  bunks  and  food,  and  connected  with  each  other 
by  telephone,  will  be  established.  Then  will  this  Forest  be  the  ideal 
of  the  tramp  de  luxe. 

The  Forest  Service  of  the  Department  of  Agriculture  explains 
the  purpose  and  use  of  the  National  Forest  in  the  following 
terms: 

"The  White  Mountain  National  Forest  is  the  largest  of  sixteen 
National  Forests  in  the  East  whose  creation  was  made  possible  through 
the  passage  by  Congress  in  1911  of  the  so-called  Weeks  Law,  which 
provided  for  the  acquisition  of  forest  lands  for  the  protection  of  the 
watersheds  of  navigable  streams.  In  addition  to  the  primary  object 
of  the  law,  the  establishment  of  National  Forests  in  the  East  is 
of  importance  because  of  the  provision  which  is  made  for  the  con- 
tinuance of  a  timber  supply  to  meet  the  demands  of  the  industries  of 


the  region,  and  for  the  preservation  of  the  beauty  and  attractive- 
ness of  the  uplands  for  the  recreation  and  pleasure  of  the  American 
people. 

"The  White  Mountain  National  Forest  area  consists  of  about  827,600 
acres  in  Coos,  Carroll  and  Grafton  counties  in  New  Hampshire,  and 
projects  slightly  into  the  adjoining  State  of  Maine.  Its  boundaries 
embrace  nearly  all  of  the  mountain  country  from  the  Pliny  Range  on 
the  north  to  Sandwich  Dome  on  the  south,  and  from  beyond  the  Maine 
State  line  on  the  east  nearly  to  the  Connecticut  River  on  the  west.  It 
contains  numerous  mountains  which  reach  a  height  of  over  4000  feet 
and  the  loftiest  of  these,  Mount  Washington,  rises  to  an  altitude  of  6,290 
feet  above  sea  level,  and  is  one  of  the  highest  mountains  of  the  Appa- 
lachian system. 

"The  region  is  essentially  a  forest  country  containing  considerable 
areas  of  primeval  forest  as  well  as  a  large  amount  of  other  land  from 


The  Old  Toll  Gate,  Glen,  N.  H. 


Israel  River,  Cherry  Mountain 


which  the  timber  has  been  removed.  Some  of  this  has  been  badly 
damaged  by  forest  fires.  The  preservation  of  forest  conditions  has 
long  been  regarded  as  absolutely  necessary,  not  only  by  the  Federal 
Government  but  by  the  State  and  local  organizations  interested  in  pre- 
serving the  picturesque  woods  for  which  the  region  is  noted.  If  unpro- 
tected from  fire  and  careless  timber  cutting,  it  would  soon  lose  much  of 
its  attractiveness,  and  the  disastrous  effects  on  the  streams  which  flow 
from  its  lofty  ranges  would  be  almost  incalculable. 

"The  watersheds  of  four  of  the  most  important  rivers  of  New 
England  —  the  Connecticut,  the  Androscoggin,  the  Merrimac  and  the 
Saco  —  lie  in  part  within  the  White  Mountain  Area,  of  which  the  Federal 
Government  has  already  purchased,  or  is  acquiring  360,000  acres.  Other 
purchases  are  being  made  as  rapidly  as  possible,  and  according  to  the 
working  plan  of  the  National  Forest  Reservation  Commission  most  of 
the  827,600  acres  will  in  time  become  National  Forest. 


"As  rapidly  as  the  land  is  acquired  it  is  placed  under  administration 
in  the  same  way  as  is  done  in  the  case  of  the  larger  National  Forests  in 
the  West.  Primarily  the  Forests  are  protected  from  fire  and  other  de- 
structive agencies.  The  scenic  beauty  of  this  region,  its  valuable  timber 
and  the  influence  of  the  Forest  in  regulating  the  stream  flow  are  all  more 
or  less  dependent  on  the  protective  measures  made  effective  by  Govern- 
ment ownership.  The  many  miles  of  trails  which  the  Government  found 
already  made  when  it  acquired  the  land  facilitate  the  constant  patrol 
necessary  during  the  dry  seasons  when  the  danger  of  forest  fires  is  great. 
In  co-operation  with  the  State  of  New  Hampshire,  watchmen  are  sta- 
tioned during  the  summer  season  on  commanding  peaks  having  an  ex- 
tended view  of  the  surrounding  country.  These  lookout  stations,  as 
they  are  called,  are  usually  connected  by  telephone  with  the  valleys  in 
order  that  the  lookout  man  may  quickly  report  the  location  of  any  fire 
which  may  occur,  and  secure  the  necessary  assistance  to  extinguish  it. 


Above  the  Clouds,  Summit  Mt.  Washington 


Presidential  Range 


Tuckerman's  Ravine 


"Many  people  still  think  of  the  National  Forests  as  reserves,  and 
believe  that  their  resources  are  'locked  up,'  but  this  is  a  mistaken  idea. 
The  National  Forests  are  not  reserves  in  that  sense  of  the  word.  Their 
resources  are  for  wise  use  and  are  developed  along  lines  which  will  con- 
tribute most  to  the  upbuilding  of  the  localities  in  which  they  are  situated 
and  to  the  needs  of  the  nation.  In  allowing  any  use  of  the  primary 
question  to  be  deeided  is,  of  course,  whether  it  will  interfere  with  the 
purpose  for  which  the  Forests  have  been  created.  The  White  Mountain 
National  Forest  contains  a  large  amount  of  valuable  timber.  The 
mature  timber  is  sold  to  private  operators  at  a  price  that  will  allow  them 
a  fair  return  on  their  investments.  In  contrast  to  the  usual  methods  of 
stripping  the  mountain  slopes  of  all  the  trees,  however,  the  operators 
are  required  to  cut  only  the  trees  marked  by  the  Forest  Officer.  This 
marking  is  done  by  experienced  men  in  such  a  way  that  a  future  crop  of 
timber  is  assured  and  at  the  same  time  the  scenic  beauty  of  the  forest  is 


A  Typical  Summer  Home  of  Simple  Construction.  Attractively  Located  in  the  White  Mountains 


The  Flume,  North  Woodstock 


A  View  of  Mt.  Madison  from  One  of  the  Available  Summer  Home  Sites 
on  Government  Land  in  the  White  Mountains 


preserved.  On  portions  of  especial  scenic  interest,  no  cutting  is  allowed 
at  all.  The  same  principle  applies  to  other  uses. 

"The  establishment  of  the  White  Mountain  Forest  performs  a  most 
important  public  service  in  providing  a  playground  for  the  people,  and 
its  use  for  all  sorts  of  outdoor  recreation  is  encouraged.  The  trails, 
whether  constructed  by  the  Forest  Service  or  by  outing  organizations, 
are  open  to  the  public,  and  these  trails  make  accessible  the  most  beautiful 
parts  of  this  region  and  offer  opportunities  for  many  interesting  tramping 
trips. 

"The  Forest  is  covered  by  a  network  of  good  roads,  including  many 
miles  of  State  highway  all  suitable  for  motor  travel,  and  the  tourist  can 
always  find  accommodations  at  the  numerous  hotels,  inns  and  boarding 
houses  within  or  near  the  National  Forest.  A  very  useful  guide  map  of 
the  White  Mountain  region,  together  with  instructions  and  information 
for  tourists,  campers  and  others,  can  be  obtained  by  writing  to  the  Forest 
Supervisor  at  Gorham,  New  Hampshire. 


Looking  Off  from  Gulfside  Trail 


"Government  ownership  has  given  new  impetus  to  recreational 
development  of  the  region.  Under  the  system  of  special-use  permits 
which  is  in  force  on  all  the  National  Forests,  the  public  may  use  the  land 
in  any  way  that  is  compatible  with  its  proper  protection  and  adminis- 
tration. Persons  who  wish  to  maintain  camps  on  the  Forest  may  do  so 
under  a  short-term  permit  or  they  may  take  advantage  of  the  law  which 
provides  that  National  Forest  land  may  be  leased  in  tracts  of  five  acres 
or  less  for  periods  not  exceeding  thirty  years  for  permanent  summer 
homes.  There  are  many  sites  in  accessible  and,  if  desired,  in  relatively 
inaccessible  locations  which  are  suitable  for  camps,  cottages,  resorts, 
hotels,  and  stores,  and  which  may  be  obtained  from  the  Government  at 
rates  ranging  from  $12  a  year  up. 

"Until  recently,  this  region  was  celebrated  only  as  a  delightful  sum- 
mering place.  Within  the  past  few  years,  however,  such  a  keen  and  active 
interest  has  been  taken  in  the  winter  sports  that  there  is  every  indication 


Snow-covered  Peaks  of  Presidential  Range 


Beautiful  Lakes  are  Near  at  Hand 


that  it  will  soon  be  almost  as  popular  as  a  winter  resort.  The  wonderful 
opportunities  for  skiing,  snowshoeing,  tobogganing,  skating,  and  sleigh- 
ing are  bringing  in  increasing  numbers  every  year  people  who  enjoy  these 
unique  and  delightful  winter  sports.  Annual  midwinter  tours  by  mem- 
bers of  outing  clubs,  students  of  universities  and  schools  are  now  perma- 
nent features  in  the  White  Mountains,  and  these  outings  are  becoming 
more  and  more  popular  each  year. 

"In  the  development  of  the  recreational  opportunities  of  the  region, 
the  preservation  of  its  scenic  beauty  and  its  valuable  timber,  the  co-op- 
eration of  both  the  local  inhabitants  and  the  visitor  is  needed.  The 
Forest  Service  extends  many  privileges  to  the  public.  Camping,  fishing, 
hunting,  snowshoeing  and  other  pleasures  may  be  enjoyed;  one  need 
only  comply  with  the  laws  of  the  State  and  the  regulations  of  the  De- 
partment of  Agriculture.  In  return,  the  public  is  expected  to  take  the 
simple  precautions  necessary  to  protect  the  timber,  prevent  stream 


Echo  Lake,  Franconla  Mountains 


Lake  Gloriette,  Dixvllle  Notch 

pollution,  and  forest  fires,  and  to  co-operate  in  keeping  camp  sites, 
trailsides  and  roadsides  in  neat  and  attractive  condition." 

Men  and  women,  boys  and  girls,  alike  in  these  days  tramp  the 
Mountains  for  days  and  miles  with  the  perseverance  of  Iroquois  and 
the  nonchalence  of  gypsies,  getting  from  their  glorious  experience  a 
hardening  of  flesh,  a  brightness  of  eye  and  a  bronzing  of  skin  that  might 
well  have  been  the  heritage  of  the  Western  pioneers.  Sleeping  be- 
neath a  cotton  tent,  or  under  the  friendly  roofs  of  the  Appalachian 
Mountain  Club  huts,  they  soon  learn  that  the  joy  of  living  is 
something  more  than  a  mere  printed  phrase.  It  is  the  essence 
of  summer  vacation  enjoyment  and  experience  in  the  White  Moun- 
tains. 

Walking  parties,  small,  large  and  medium-sized,  as  well  as  in- 
dividual trampers,  are  always  to  be  encountered  wherever  one  finds 
one's  self  in  the  Mountains;  and  not  infrequently  the  visitor  descend- 
ing Mt.  Washington  by  the  carriage-road  meets  a  bevy  of  red-cheeked, 


bright-eyed  maidens  attired  in  bloomers,  from  some  girls'  camp,  perhaps 
forty  or  fifty  miles  distant;  or  while  the  tourist  is  quietly  enjoying  the 
wonderful  view  from  the  summit  of  that  lofty  eminence,  suddenly 
an  imposing  company  of  brown-clad  youths  will  disturb  his  medita- 
tions by  emerging  from  the  Crawford  trail  and  descending,  half-famished, 
upon  the  restaurant  installed  in  the  fine  new  hotel. 

From  Bretton  Woods,  Fabyan,  Jefferson,  Randolph,  Gorham, 
Jackson,  North  Conway,  Maple  wood,  Bethlehem,  North  Woodstock, 
and  the  rest  of  the  Mountain  centers  glorious  trail  trips  through  valley 
and  over  summit  radiate  in  every  direction,  some  of  them  leading  in  a 
few  minutes  to  prospects  of  which  the  Rockies  themselves  need  not  be 
ashamed. 

From  North  Woodstock,  one  may  easily  and  quickly  explore  the 
interesting  Pemigewasset  and  Franconia  Notch  region,  including  the 
famous  Flume.  About  seven  miles  from  North  Woodstock,  on  the  road 


The  Pool,  Franconia  Notch 


Presidential  Range  from  Intervale 

to  Warren,  is  the  spectacular  Lost  River  Region,  where  the  State  has 
established  a  reservation,  with  a  shelter,  the  use  of  which  is  free.  This 
territory  is  newly  opened  and  well  worth  a  trip  to  see.  North  Conway 
and  Intervale  offer  tramping  opportunities  innumerable  among  the 
lower  members  of  the  Mountain  colony,  including  Moat  Mountain 
and  Mt.  Pequawket  and  several  of  the  picturesque  cascades  and  basins 
of  the  vicinity. 

From  Jackson  and  the  Crawford  House,  one  may  negotiate  the 
Crawford  and  Pinkham  Notches,  with  their  rugged  and  beautiful 
scenery,  and  climb  to  some  of  the  magnificent  overlooks  that  have 
been  placed  there,  balcony-like,  by  a  prodigal  Creator  for  the  benefit 
of  the  twentieth-century  tourist. 

Rretton  Woods  offers  a  wide  variety  of  both  long  and  short  ex- 
cursions afoot,  including  such  well-known  places  as  Mt.  Echo,  Mt. 
Stickney,  Mt.  Pleasant,  Mt.  Willard,  Mt.  Webster,  Mt.  Deception, 
Ammonoosuc  Falls,  the  Lakes  of  the  Clouds  and  the  various  peaks  of 
the  Presidential  Range,  including  Mt.  Washington  itself. 


From  New  Profile  House,  with  its  score  of  cosy  cottages,  the  tourist 
may  reach  in  comfort  Echo  Lake,  Mt.  Cannon,  Mt.  Lafayette,  the  Pool, 
the  Flume  and  various  other  popular  objectives  of  the  summer  visitor, 
invariably  finding  excellent  roads  and  trails. 

Bethlehem  and  Maplewood,  places  of  magnificent  distances  and 
smiling  landscape,  have  breezy  Mt.  Agassiz,  topped  by  an  observation 
tower,  from  which  the  visitor  may  look  out  upon  a  scene  of  grandeur 
and  enchantment,  taking  in  large  portions  of  northern  New  Hampshire, 
of  Vermont,  and  even  of  parts  of  Canada. 

The  habitues  of  Jefferson  have  always  in  their  mind's  eye  a  jaunt 
to  Cherry  Mountain,  to  the  summit  of  Starr  King,  or  to  the  top  of 
Mt.  Washington  itself;  and  so  at  Gorham,  Randolph,  Whitefield, 
Dixville  Notch,  Holderness,  Plymouth,  Sugar  Hill  and  the  rest  of  the 
illustrious  White  Mountain  list  there  is  a  variety  of  these  always- 
enjoyable  expeditions  afoot  to  be  enjoyed,  their  extent  being  limited 


Carnival  at  Bethlehem 


On  the  Summit,  Mt.  Washington 

only  by  physical  conditions  or  weather  or  time.  Different  devotees 
of  mountain  climbing  have  their  different  ways  of  doing  it.  Some 
make  it  a  rule  to  start  before  sunrise  on  their  day's  expedition;  others 
prefer  to  delay  till  the  cool  of  the  afternoon. 

To  mention  but  one  of  many  enjoyable  walking  jaunts,  it  is  possible 
for  a  party  to  leave  Bretton  Woods  at  6  o'clock  in  the  morning,  ride 
to  the  base  of  Mt.  Pleasant,  and  then  begin  their  climb  to  the  clouds. 
After  reaching  the  summit  of  Mt.  Washington  over  the  fine  trail, 
the  crest  of  Mt.  Jefferson  may  be  negotiated  by  the  Gulfside 
trail,  the  return  being  made  by  the  Westside  trail  to  Mt.  Pleasant, 
thence  down  by  the  Franklin  path,  a  total  distance  of  about  twenty-five 
miles. 

A  record-breaking  trip,  covering  every  peak  of  the  Presidential 
Range,  was  recently  made  by  three  men,  a  doctor,  a  lawyer  and  a 
minister,  who  tramped  from  Randolph  to  the  Crawrford  House  in  a 
little  more  than  seven  hours,  starting  shortly  before  8  in  the  morning 


Falls  of  Paradise,  Lost  River 


and  reaching  their  destination  about  3.15  in  the  afternoon.  The 
summits  of  Madison,  Adams,  Jefferson,  Clay,  Washington,  Monroe, 
Franklin,  Pleasant  and  Clinton  were  crossed  and  a  stop  of  about  half 
an  hour  was  made  at  the  Tip-Top  House  on  the  summit  of  Mt.  Wash- 
ington, where,  with  the  blue  Atlantic  on  one  side  of  them  and  the  Domin- 
ion of  Canada  on  the  other,  they  enjoyed  lunch  with  the  zest  that  is 
known  only  to  mountain-climbers. 

When  all  other  forms  of  outdoor  enjoyment  are  exhausted  (if 
such  a  thing  could  be  possible  in  the  Mountains),  there  still  remains 
the  historic  pastime  of  fishing.  The  Saco  and  the  Ammonoosuc  and 
the  numerous  brooks  that  enter  them,  not  to  mention  the  Pemigewasset, 
abound  in  brook  trout,  and  afford  hours,  and  even  days,  of  royal  sport. 
There  are  many  summer  sojourners  here  who  find  their  chief  recreation 
in  whipping  the  trout  brooks  of  the  mountain  region,  and  seldom  are 
they  obliged  to  return  home  with  empty  creels. 


Golf  Clubhouse,  Dixville  Notch 


On  the  Green 


Needless  to  say,  the  White  Mountains  are  literally  a  paradise 
for  the  wielders  of  brush  and  pencil  as  well  as  for  the  devotees  of  art 
photography.  The  wonderful  conformations,  the  marvelous  atmos- 
phere, the  gorgeous  sunrise  and  sunset  effects  and  the  startling  com- 
binations of  cloud  and  mist  make  them  a  very  wonderland  of  picture- 
esqueness. 

The  region  has  been  well  described  as  Nature's  mammoth  museum. 
Of  the  many  natural  wonders,  it  is  necessary  here  to  refer  to  a  few 
only.  There  is  the  wonderful  Flume,  in  Franconia  Notch,  a  great  cleft 
in  the  mountain,  900  feet  long  and  60  to  70  feet  high;  its  neighboring 
Pool  and  Basin,  remarkable  depressions  filled  with  crystal  water  and 
amid  most  romantic  surroundings;  the  world-famous  "Old  Man  of  the 
Mountains,"  stern  and  immovable  sentinel  of  this  entire  region;  White 
Horse  Ledge,  near  North  Conway  and  Intervale,  so  called  on  account 
of  its  fancied  resemblance  to  a  dashing  steed;  Lost  River,  at  North 


Woodstock,  and  the  remarkable  Lakes  of  the  Clouds,  situated  in  a 
depression  between  Mt.  Washington  and  Mt.  Monroe,  5,000  feet  above 
the  sea. 

One  of  the  greatest  and  most  awe-inspiring  of  Nature's  wonders 
is  the  Crawford  Notch,  up  whose  steep  grades  and  between  whose 
beetling  cliflfs  the  laboring  train  brings  throngs  of  marveling  tourists 
every  day  in  summer.  The  Notch,  named  after  one  of  the  noted  pioneer 
families  of  the  region,  is  about  15  miles  long  and  its  western  portal 
is  1,890  feet  above  the  level  of  the  ocean.  In  the  26  miles  between 
North  Conway  and  Crawford  1,380  feet  of  this  elevation  occurs,  there 
being  a  rise  of  116  feet  to  the  mile  for  nine  consecutive  miles  in  its 
steepest  portion. 

It  was  in  the  heart  of  the  Crawford  Notch  that  the  members  of 
the  Willey  family  were  destroyed  by  the  historic  landslide  of  August, 
1826.  The  site  of  this  catastrophe  is  one  of  the  landmarks  of  the  region. 


Crawford,  N.  H..  Gateway  to  Notch 


Pemigewasset  River,  Franconia 


ancl  is  visited  by  hundreds  of  tourists  every  year.  The  drive  through 
the  Notch  is  an  obligation  amounting  almost  to  unwritten  law  on  the 
part  of  vacationists  sojourning  at  Crawford,  Bretton  Woods,  Fabyan, 
Twin  Mountain,  Jackson  and  the  Intervale-North  Conway  region. 
No  White  Mountain  experience  is  more  delightful. 

After  every  one  of  the  White  Mountain  centers  was  given  its  due 
in  printed  and  illustrated  page  (which  would  be  quite  impracticable 
from  the  guide-book  point  of  view),  they  would  all,  figuratively  speak- 
ing, still  have  to  take  off  their  hats  to  grand  old  Mt.  Washington.  As 
in  the  ancient  days  when  the  White  Mountains  were  first  revealed  to 
the  eyes  of  white  men,  this  peak  continues  to  be  monarch  of  all  it  surveys, 
and  that  is  a  good  deal,  geographically  speaking. 

From  the  summit  of  Mt.  Washington,  the  radius  of  view  is  much 
more  than  one  hundred  miles,  taking  in  the  ocean,  the  New  Hampshire 
lake  country,  the  Connecticut  River  Valley,  the  Rangeley  Lake  country 


and  to  Mt.  Katahdin  in  Maine,  and  reaching  far  into  Vermont  and 
Canada.  This  is  one  of  the  reasons  why  so  many  thousands  of  the 
world's  people  have  been  impelled  to  ascend  to  its  breeze-swept  summit 
during  the  last  half  century  or  so,  princes,  presidents  and  potentates 
among  them. 

Like  the  Mountains  in  general,  Mt.  Washington  is  not  quite  to 
be  described;  it  must  be  visited  and  studied  on  its  own  account. 

Every  fine  day  in  summer  the  famous  cog-railway,  with  its  pushing 
locomotives  and  inclining  cars,  is  busy  transporting  visitors  from  all 
parts  of  the  globe  to  the  top  of  this  famous  mountain. 

The  Mt.  Washington  Railway  has  been  running  since  1869,  and 
in  all  these  years  not  a  passenger  has  been  killed  or  injured.  From 
the  Base  Station,  the  distance  covered  by  the  cog-railway  is  about 
three  miles,  and  the  average  grade  is  1,300  feet  to  the  mile.  At  its 
greatest  gradient  it  is  nearly  2,000  feet  to  the  mile.  Its  famous  trestle, 


Base  Station,  Mt.  Washington  Railway 


Jacob's  Ladder,  Mt.  Washington  Ry. 

or  "Jacob's  Ladder,"  together  with  its  peculiarly  shaped  locomotives, 
are  familiar  to  millions  of  Americans  who  have  never  seen  them,  through 
the  medium  of  printed  illustrations  and  descriptions. 

Trains  running  over  rails  of  standard  gauge  take  the  tourists 
from  Fabvan  and  Bretton  Woods  to  Base  Station  (both  the  Boston 
and  Maine  and  Maine  Central  Railroads  ineeting  at  the  former  sta- 
tions), and  at  the  Base  the  passengers  change  to  the  cog-railway, 
which  conveys  them  to  the  summit  by  a  slow  yet  all  too  rapid  journey. 
The  ever-changing  panorama  spread  out  before  the  eye  of  the 
ascending  tourits,  the  differentiations  of  air  and  flora,  the  stop  at  the 
brink  of  the  awesome  Gulf,  and  the  final  disembarkation  at  the  summit 
of  the  great  eminence,  nearly  a  mile  and  a  quarter  above  the  sea,  form 
a  series  of  kaleidoscopic  impressions  that  can  never  be  effaced  from 
the  memory.  The  tourist  has  the  privilege  of  ascending  several  high 
mountains  in  America,  but  none  of  these  bring  quite  the  satisfactory 
results  of  a  climb  to  the  summit  of  Mt.  Washington. 


Up  here  on  the  roof  of  New  England  has  been  erected  the  "New 
Station  and  Restaurant"  to  replace  the  old  Summit  House  destroyed 
some  years  ago.  Arriving  at  the  summit  by  the  cog-railway,  one 
enters  the  New  Station  directly  from  the  station  platform,  through 
an  ample  vestibule,  into  a  large  room,  in  the  center  of  which  is  the 
office.  At  the  right  will  be  found  the  commodious  dining  room  for 
eighty  guests,  while  to  the  left  is  the  lounging  and  rest  room,  filled 
with  comfortable  chairs  drawn  up  around  a  big,  old-fashioned  fire- 
place. Here,  also,  at  the  southern  end,  is  the  writing  room,  while  along 
the  west  side  is  the  souvenir  stand,  which  always  attracts  so  much 
attention  on  Mt.  Washington.  Up  stairs  there  are  eighteen  guests' 
rooms,  with  twin  beds,  together  with  lavatories  and  bathrooms.  The 
new  building  is  in  every  way  a  credit  to  New  Hampshire's  grandest 
mountain. 

The  patronage  brought  daily  by  the  trains  to  this  lofty  hostelry 


The  New  Summit  House 


Along  the  Gale  River,  Franconia  Village 


is  reinforced  by  the  ever-moving  contingent  of  mountain-climbers,  of 
both  sexes,  who  are  constantly  traveling  the  trails  that  connect  the 
Presidential  Peaks. 

The  cloud  pictures  unfolded  from  this  lofty  point  of  vantage, 
when  conditions  are  ripe,  are  simply  superb;  and  there  are  times  when 
the  beholder  finds  it  exceedingly  difficult  to  believe  that  he  is  looking 
upon  mist-billows  and  not  upon  those  of  the  ocean. 

The  original  Tip-Top  House,  erected  in  1853,  was  destroyed  by 
fire  in  1915.  The  stone  walls  and  foundations,  however,  were  not 
affected,  and  it  was  rebuilt  in  1916. 

Sufficient  time  is  permitted  on  the  summit  for  a  satisfactory  view 
of  the  wonderful  New  England  panorama  and  dinner  in  the  Summit 
House  before  the  train  departs  for  the  Base.  Many  tourists,  in  order 
to  complete  their  White  Mountain  education  and  add  a  few  more  ex- 
periences to  their  vacation  note-books,  descend  the  Mountain  by  way 


Tip-Top  House,  Summit  Mt.  Washington,  Labor  Day,  1916 


Upper  Falls  of  the  Arnrnonoosuc  River 


Mt.  Jefferson  from  Stage  Road 

of  the  carriage  road  on  the  west  side.  This  is,  indeed,  an  experience 
to  go  hand  in  hand  with  that  of  descending  the  steep  California  moun- 
tains behind  a  six-horse  team. 

The  stage  ride  down  the  Mountain  gives  the  tourist  an  entirely 
different  aspect  of  White  Mountain  scenery  than  the  one  he  enjoyed  com- 
ing up  by  train;  and  by  the  time  the  last  steep  section  of  the  carriage 
road  has  been  passed  and  he  is  well  on  his  way  through  glorious 
Pinkham  Notch,  he  is  doubly  glad  he  elected  to  return  to  his  hotel 
this  way. 

The  homeward  route  affords  him  an  opportunity  to  see  pictur- 
esque Glen  Ellis  Falls  and  the  pretty  White  Mountain  resort,  Jackson, 
with  its  tumbling  Wildcat  River,  and  brings  him  out  to  the  railroad 
at  Glen  and  Xackson  station  in  time  to  ascend  Crawford  Notch  at 
at  an  hour  when  it  is  in  its  most  romantic  mood.  In  all  the 
world  there  is  not  a  more  inspiring,  delightful,  satisfying  day's  outing 
than  this. 

The  scenic  charms  of  Jefferson,  Randolph,  Gorham  and  the  north 


Glen  Ellis  Falls,  Pinkham  Notch 


side  of  the  Mountains  generally  lose  nothing  of  their  impressiveness 
on  closer  acquaintance.  Jefferson,  with  its  growing  Waumbek  Colony, 
represents  one  of  the  highest  types  of  the  White  Mountain  vacation 
resort.  It  is  a  community  of  cottages  as  well  as  of  lively  hotel  life, 
and  the  younger  element  in  the  summer  tourist  population  seems  to 
be  peculiarly  well  represented  here.  The  Waumbek  golf  links,  already 
mentioned,  rank  among  the  highest  in  the  region  and  are  annually 
the  scene  of  many  an  interesting  tournament,  participated  in  by  noted 
experts. 

Starr  King  Mountain,  lifting  its  massive  proportions  here,  is  one 
of  the  features  of  the  landscape;  and  Cherry  Mountain  is  another 
of  Jefferson's  prized  possessions.  The  summer  social  life  here  is  every- 
thing that  could  be  desired,  and  there  is  no  form  of  outdoor  or  indoor 
amusement  common  to  the  Mountains  generally  that  cannot  be  en- 
joyed here,  including  trap  shooting.  There  is  a  splendid  livery  and 
the  highways  are  ideal. 


Cherry  Mountain  and  the  Waumbek  Golf  Links 


Bridal  Veil  Cascade,  Sugar  Hill 


A  Typical  Mountain  Road 

The  delightful  Randolph  Valley,  in  which  the  town  of  Randolph 
nestles,  has  an  elevation  of  1,200  feet  above  the  sea  and  is  hemmed 
in  by  Mt.  Adams  and  Mt.  Madison  on  the  south  and  the  Mt.  Crescent 
Range  on  the  north,  the  Carter  Range  lying  in  the  foreground,  to  the 
east.  This  is  another  hay-fever-proof  region.  Randolph  is  connected 
with  the  summit  of  Mt.  Washington  by  two  admirably  constructed 
mountain  paths,  the  benefaction  of  the  late  J.  Rayner  Edmunds.  Other 
paths  radiate  from  Randolph  to  some  of  the  most  attractive  parts 
of  the  Presidential  Range  section  where  the  numerous  mountain  streams 
in  the  vicinity  break  into  exquisite  falls.  It  is  a  center  that  appeals 
strongly  to  all  who  love  wild  and  bold  mountain  scenery  and  the  joys 
of  tramping. 

Colebrook,  situated  about  twenty-five  miles  southwest  of  the  famous 
Connecticut  lakes,  source  of  the  Connecticut  River,  is  another 
popular  tourist  center  that  may  properly  be  classed  among  the  White 
Mountain  resorts.  Ten  miles  bevond  it  lies  romantic  Dixville  Notch, 


with  its  splendid  summer  hotel,  The  Balsams,  nestling  at  the  side  of 
lovely  Lake  Gloriette.  Here  is  an  ideal  rest  resort  if  ever  there  was 
one. 

The  Dixville  Mountains,  in  which  is  the  romantic  Notch  of  that 
name,  are  really  a  group  apart  from  the  White  Mountains,  and  some 
forty  miles  distant  from  the  Presidential  Range. 

It  is  gratifying  to  all  who  love  outdoor  life  that  the  tendency  to 
lengthen  the  period  of  vacation  in  the  Mountains  increases  year  by 
year,  until  now  the  season  of  autumnal  foliage,  crisper  atmosphere 
and  clearer  horizons  finds  a  constantly  growing  contingent  still  lingering 
at  hotel  and  cottage. 

For  it  is  then  that  the  White  Mountains  fall  under  the  spell  of 
the  Great  Painters,  and  grim  Mt.  Washington  looks  through  the  amber 
September  or  October  haze  upon  a  far-reaching  harlequinade  of  rainbow 
hues. 


Dlxville  Notch 


There  is  nothing  upon  all  this  continent  that  can  compare  with 
the  autumnal  glory  of  the  White  Mountains.  It  can  neither  be  de- 
scribed nor  painted.  No  matter  from  what  point  of  vantage  the  autum- 
nal foliage  of  the  Mountains  is  viewed  —  whether  from  summit  or 
valley  —  the  spectacle  is  one  that  is  beyond  imagination. 

For  many,  the  true  vacation  is  now  commencing.  While  others 
have  gone  back  from  seashore,  lake  or  mountain  to  take  up  the  tasks 
of  business,  those  who  love  and  understand  the  Mountains  are  on  the 
way  to  their  favorite  haunts  to  spend  the  summer  end  in  the  most 
exhilarating  and  beneficial  of  outdoor  pastimes  —  mountain-climbing, 
driving,  golfing,  fishing  and  shooting. 

The  Crawford,  Franconia,  Pinkham,  Dixville  and  Carter  Notches 
lend  themselves  particularly  to  this  marvelous  display  of  color  and 
contrast  —  for  vivid,  indeed,  is  the  contrast  between  the  brilliant  colors 
of  the  maples  and  the  somber  green  of  the  pines  and  firs.  Fortunate 
is  the  visitor  who  can  view  the  incomparable  picture  from  each  and 
all  of  these  vantage  points.  Certainly, 

"There  is  a  beautiful  spirit  breathing  now, 
Its  mellow  richness  on  the  clustered  trees." 

Such  are  the  wondrous  White  Mountains  of  New  Hampshire! 


(Hock  Golf  at  Twin  Mountain 


Altitude  of  White  Mountains  Resorts  in  Feet 


Ashland 555 

Bartlett , 680 

Berlin ;...  1.013 

Bethlehem '.'.'.  1,470 

Bretton  Woods 1,620 

Burleyville 679 

Campion 687 

Chocorua  (Town) 550 

Colebrook 1,017 

Connecticut  Lakes 1,600 

Conway 466 

Crawford 1,891 

Dixville  Notch 1,831 

Fabyan 1,580 

Franconia 990 

Franconia  Notch 1,911 

Gorham 853 

Holderness 475 

Intervale 544 

Jackson .  757 


Jefferson 

Lancaster 

Lincoln 

Lisbon 

Littleton 

Madison 

Maple  wood ... 
New  London ... 

Newport .-..' 

New  Profile 

North  Conway .  . 
North  Woodstock 

Plymouth 

Randolph 

Sandwich 

Shelburne 

Sugar  Hill 

Twin  Mountain    . 

Wentworth 

Whitefield.. 


1,400 
887 

1,400 
557 
772 
478 

1,489 

1,531 
804 

1,911 
517 
739 
483 

1,203 
648 
701 

1,334 

1,450 
697 
952 


Altitude  of  Mountain  Peaks  in  Feet 


Washington 6,290 

Adams 5,805 

Jefferson 5,725 

Clay 5,554 

Monroe 5,390 

Madison 5,380 

Lafayette 5,269 

Franklin 5,028 

Carter  Dome 4,860 

Moosilauke 4,810 

North  Twin 4,783 

Pleasant 4,775 

Carrigin 4,647 

Hancock 4,430 

Wildcat 4,415 

Osccola 4,352 

Field 4,300 

Clinton .  4,275 


Willey 

Tripyramid ........ 

Passaconaway .  ..:... 
Sandwich  Dome    .  .  .  .  . 

Jackson 

Tecumseh 

Starr  King 

Webster 

Deception 

Cherry 

Chocorua 

Pequawket 

Paugus 

North  Moat  Mountain 

Crawford 

Baldcap 

South  Moat  Mountain 
Agassiz 


4,261 
4,189 
4,116 
4,071 
4,012 
4,008 
3,919 
3,876 
3,700 
3,600 
3,508 
3,260 
3,248 
3,195 
3,101 
3,100 
2,760 
2,394 


Au  Revoir 


A  Vacation  Library 

ISSUED   BY 

Boston  and   Maine  Railroad 

THE  wonderfully  attractive  vacation 
places  in  Eastern  and  Northern  New 
England  are  pictured  and  described  in  the 
series  of  booklets  issued  by  the  Passenger 
Traffic  Department  of  the  Boston  and 
Maine  Railroad.  These  books  contain 
much  helpful  information  for  the  vaca- 
tionist. 

Where  to  Stay  in  Vacation  Land 

(Issued  Annually) 

White  Mountains  of  New  Hampshire 
Along  New  England  Shores 
Lake  Winnepesaukee 
Lake  Sunapee 

A  copy  of  any  publication  in  this  list 
may  be  obtained  by  writing  to  the  Passenger 
Traffic  Department,  North  Station,  Bos- 
ton, Mass.  They  may  also  be  obtained  at 
the  City  Ticket  Office  in  New  York,  171 
Broadway,  and  at  the  City  Ticket  Office  in 
Boston,  corner  of  Washington  and  Court 
Streets. 


I 
1' 


ALIFORNU 
AjSGELES 


UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA  LIBRARY 

Los  Angeles 
This  book  is  DUE  on  the  last  date  stamped  below. 


OISCHARCE-URL 
APR  1 8 1979 


Form  L9-50»i-4,'61(B8994s4)444 


